A little more than a month ago,...

A little more than a month ago, Philippe Boucher asked Taylor, for other employment.

“It’s just not working out,” Boucher said after sitting as a healthy scratch for a month, playing a game, then sitting again for more than three weeks.

Boucher made no demands. That’s not his style. Just a request to move him to a team that might need a defenseman with a decent shot.

Taylor said he looked, found no takers at a price he considered fair and counseled patience.

So Boucher sat and then got some playing time. He has made the most of it, with two goals and three assists over his last six appearances. That they have been spread over the Kings’ last 12 games indicates that nothing really is solved.

“But I’m the happiest guy in the world,” Boucher said Wednesday. “I did my best. I did a good job when I was playing, and I wasn’t a distraction when I wasn’t playing.”

He stayed quiet and worked during practice to play in the occasional game. And he is the beneficiary of Steve Duchesne’s fall from favor. Duchesne has been benched the last three games and Boucher has a goal and an assist in his stead.

TONIGHT

Mighty Ducks at Kings

7:30, Fox Sports West

* Site--Great Western Forum.

* Radio--KRLA (1110), XTRA (690).

* Records--Kings 26-36-5, Mighty Ducks 30-27-11.

* Season series--Ducks lead, 4-0.

* Update--The Kings have won three in a row and the Mighty Ducks had lost two in a row before Wednesday’s 2-2 tie against Ottawa. The Ducks have beaten the Kings five times in a row, dating to last season and outscored them, 11-3, in the four wins this season.

* Tickets--(888)-546-4752.